Windrower platform adjusting means



R. ASHTON Erm. 2,720,744

Oct. 18, 1955 Filed Feb. 5, 1953 INVENTORJ ROBERT ASHTON BY THOMAS CARROLL Oct. 18, 1955 R. AsHToN ETAL WINDROWER PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT AS HTON THOMAS QARROLL M42 Moey Filed Feb. 3, 1953 Oct. 18, 1955 R. ASHTON ETAL WINDROWER PLATFORM ADJUSTING Filed Feb. 5, 1953 MEANS e sheets-smet 3 lBY ROBERT ASHTON THOMAS CARROLL Oct. 18, 1955 R. ASHTON ETAL 2,720,744

wINDRowER PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TORJ ROBERT ASHTON BY THOMAS CARROLL Oct. 18, 1955 R. ASHTON r-:TAL

wINDRowER PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 5, 1953 w Ti INVENTORS ROBERT ASHTON BY THOMAS CARROLL ZSZc'O/wey Oct. 18, 1955 R. ASHTON TAL 2,720,744

WINDROWER PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORJ' ROBERT ASHTON BY THOMAS CARROLL United States Patent O wlNDRoWER PLATFORM ADJUSTING MEANS Robert Ashton and Thomas Carroll, Toronto, Qntario, Canada, assignors to Massey-Harris-Ferguson Limited, a corporation of Canada Application February 3, 1953, Serial No. 334,782

6 Claims. (Cl. 56-268) This invention relates to harvesting machines of the type generally known as windrowers or swathers.

In a machine of this type it is necessary to be able to quickly and easily adjust the height of the table relative to the ground to accommodate the varying crop conditions throughout the eld. In as much as this adjustment is usually made manually by the operator and must be made frequently and quickly, it is desirable that this adjustment can be performed with minimum effort. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a windrower, the table of which is easily and quickly adjustable in height relative to the ground. This is accomplished by making the table completely independent of the main supporting frame, real, control mechanism and driving mechanism.

By making the table independent of the main frame, the necessity for adjusting, positioning, counterbalancing', and providing flexibility in the main frame is eliminated which results in being able to make the main frame components, such as the hitch, supporting frame, reel and table supports and transporting means, into a single, rigid unit. As a result a stronger and more rigid machine can be produced without the usual very heavy and cumbersome structure. It is one object of this invention to provide such a machine which is light in weight yet exceptionally strong and rigid.

By making the real, control mechanism and driving mechanism separate from the table, it is necessary that some provision be made so as to avoid any interference, in different operating positions, between the table and the other parts of the machine, especially the reel. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a safety means, operatively associating the reel and the platform, which will allow the platform to be operated independently of the reel but at the same time coordinate the movement of the reel with the platform when the latter reaches a predetermined height in relation to the reel.

lt is an object to provide a harvester in whichthe main frame is comprised of two sections, a hitch section and a table section, the hitch section being standard to accom- Vrnodate various size table sections, thus resulting in a machine which is economical to manufacture and capable of a wide range of operations.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved driving means for the various component parts of such a windrower.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine having novel means for adjusting the position of the reel and table which is'highly eicient in operation, compact and economical to manufacture and is readily assembled and disassembled. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a windrower having novel means for positioning the carrying wheels and hitch in working position or alternately in a transport position.

The advantage inherent in the above stated objects and other advantages will become readily apparent as this disclosure progresses, and particularly points o ut` the lCe various features of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention may be considered as comprising the various constructions, combinations or sub-combinations of parts as is hereinafter more fully set forth in the detailed description and in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the windrower with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view with parts in section and parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a left side elevation view with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view, with certain parts removed or shown in part and parts in section for sake of illustration.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the inner tube joint and its crank arm for controlling the reel.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, of the joint shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the control quadrants for the reel and table.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the right, rear portion of the machine.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective rear view of the machine showing the driving means for the sickle and canvas.

Figure l() is an enlarged, front elevational view of the control quadrants and their connections to their respective control tubes.

This windrower is made up of two separate sections, i. e., a hitch section, which is adapted to be connected to a tractor, and a table section which extends laterally to one side of the tractor. These two sections are bolted together and the interconnecting parts are so constructed so as to permit easy assembly or disassembly.

The backbone, or primary supporting member, for this machine is of tubular construction and is comprised of two sections; a full tube member 11 for the table section, and a half tube member 12 for the hitch section. By half tube is meant a semi-circular in cross section member which has its open side facing downwardly. These two tube members, which form the backbone of the machine, are each welded at their inner ends to a heavy plate 13, 14. Plates 13 and 14 are in turn rigidly but detachably secured together by means of bolts 15 thus forming a single, primary tube structure. By using Vertically positioned plates, considerable rigidity in a horizontal plane is obtained. The hitch section extends forwardly from the half tube member 12 and comprises a heavy angle iron 17 which is parallel to the half-tube member 12 and positioned beneath it. 'Ihis angle 17 is welded at its inner end to the lower part of plate 14. The outer ends of half-tube member 12 and angle member 17 are welded to the vertically positioned channel shaped member 18. Tubular hitch members 19 and 20 which are rectangular in cross section are welded at their rear ends to members 17 and converge at their forward ends. Bracing angle 22 extends from and is secured to the inner end of half-tube member 12 as at 23 and is secured at the other end to the forwardly extending angle member 24. Forwardly extending angle member 24 is secured at its rear end to half-tube member 12, while the forwardly extending member 25 is secured at its rear end to brace 22, both of which converge at their forward ends and are welded to tubular members V19 and 20 respectively. The longitudinally extending members 19, 20, 24, and 25 are made rigid by various interconnecting bracing members 26 to 33, inclusive. A tie bar 16 (Fig. 4) is detachably connected to the hitch section and the laterally extending table section to absorb the rearward thrust, or side draft, on the table section. The main frame structure 3 Y thus described is rigid and non-positionable in respect to th fld iii h' it d'S l 'Hal/ b iifl l Utilerwise adjustably positioned when harvesting the crop.

Working position An adjustable hitch poler34 is shown Figures l and 3 inthe working position and is see-ated to the plate 3s` at the forward end of the hitch frame by'means of a pin Y 36 which fits into mating h'oles the hitch pole 34, plate 35, and bracket 42, Plate 35, bracket 42 and hitch 'members 19, V20, 24 and 25 are all rigidly secured together. The krear endof hitch Ypole34 is securedto brace 37 by a pin 38 in either 'of two working positions as determined by the selection of either h ole39 in member 37. Y

While in the working position, this main frame -is carlried Vat theV stubble end by meansv of carrying wheel 44 mounted on axle Y45 which vis supported in a wheel bracket :comprising piates 46 and'47 which are welded to the l transverse angle'17 and hitch member 20 respectively. The supporting Vmeans for the grain end of the main frame comprises a U-shaped axle supporting bracket 48 which has the free ends of its opstanding` legs welded t'o theV lower portion of ltube nierr'l'be'rvll androt'atablyA and adjustably supports post` and axle 49 'by means of two bearing members 50 and l.51. On the lower end of 'post 49 is an axle portion 51 which carries the other supporting whee'1`54. Y Y 'y Semi-transport 'position Provision is also made for a semi-transport position, i. e., for road travel, which reduces the overall width of tractor and windrower. This position is obtained by mating the hole in the rear end of hitch pole 34 with the outer hole 39 in member 37. Member 35 is openon the inner side and when pin 3 6's removed the forward end of 'pole 34 is free to swing inwardly until embraced by bracket 40 (Figs. 3 and 4,) which is secured to hitch members 19 and 25. Pin Y36 thengis inserted in Vmating holes in pole 34 and bracket 40.

Y Transport position When it is desired to transport the machine for any distance, or through narrow lanes `or gates, a full transport position is provided which results, in a very narrow overall width of tractorand windrower.V In tbis'position the windrower is pulled lengthwise directly behind the tractor. For this full transportpositiongthe hitch pole -34 isremoved from the forward pari l0f the hitch frame entirely by simply removingpins 36 and38 and withdrawing the pole forwardly from its supporting brackets.

` VThe hitch pole 34 isV held extended fromV they stubble end of the frame for attachment to the tractor. For this purpose two horizontally disposed U-shapedbrackets59 and 60 (Fig. '2) are secured to the hitch frame for the reception of the hitch pole. The Vpole is `held in the bracklets, 59, 60 by-fpins '59 (Fig. 2) and 60' (Fig. 9) respectivelyextendin'g through registering holes inthe pole and bracket. The bracket 59 is somewhat below'tlre horizontal plane containing .bracketv 60 vin order that `the lfront Vend of the windrower has considerable V.ground clearance 'when the pole 34 is connected to 'the 'tractor'. In transportposition 'the main body of thelwindroweris 'directly behind the tractor. l Y

An auxiliary Ypost 41,*shown fragmentarilyrin. two positions in Figure 3, is carried'on the `hitchffrainewhen not in use. When being'used for. the transport-'positiompost 41 extendsthrough'the topof bracket 42. lA-horifzonta'lly disposed plate 42 is welded betweenthe forward ends" of `members 19 -an'd V2 0 andfals'o has fan-opening through Vwhich the 'post'41 passes. A collar 43 'is weldedto post from its bracket 46, 47"and ismou'nted in openings in 'the U-'shap'ed lower'rportion 41"of post`41. 'Thusa caster wheel is providedl atthe forward'end of the'hitch-frane 4 position to the transport position as follows: An arm 52 having an opening at the outer end is secured to post 49. The lower portion of bracket 48 has two holes therein which register with the hole in arm 52 and are held in either selected position by means of a pin 53.

Table and reel supports Two rearwardly extending and transversallyV spaced table supporting arms 55 and 56 are welded to tube member 11 and at their free ends have bearings-57 andV 58 respectively. These arms are fabricated into a Ychannel shape which results in a lightweight yet rigid support. Also secured to tube member 11 are two upwardly and forwardly extending reel support'arms or brackets 61 and 62 which are welded to tube member 11 at transversally spaced points. Adjacent to the reel arm 62 and secured to half tube member 12 is another forwardly and upwardly extending arm 63 which in conjunction with arm 62 forms a support for the reel driving mechanism.. The structure described thus far forms a single and rigid main frame which carries the various component parts of the harvester such as the reel, the harvesting table, the driving means for the sickle, platform conveyor and also carries the control mechanism for adjusting the platform and the reel, all of which are presently to be described.

Table The harvester table proper comprises a generally rectangular frame having the usual rollers 71, '72 rotatably mounted at the grain end and spaced a short distance from the stubble end respectively (Fig. 2) over which is trained the conventional endless conveyor 73 which -discharges the crop material through the openingl in the platform. The inner roller 72 has a sprocketk73A on the` nected by a conventional ball and socket joint80 to a rod 81 which is driven by a pitman 82 carried on one end of countershaft 84 (Figt 9). Countershaft 84 Vis rotatably mounted on the frame 70 by means' of suitable bearings 86, the latter of which is secured to support member 89 (Fig. 2). Countershaft 84 is driven at its rear end through sheave 91YV and V-belt means tok be de-Y scribed later. A sprocket 93 (Fig. 9) is secured to shaft 84 Yand through a chain 95 drives the conveyor roller n sprock'et73'..ldlerV sprocket 97 isfalso mounted Y.to Vthe `table frame by bracket 98 having a slot to allow for justment of the idler sprocket. c d

Two forwardly vextending Vtable arms 102, 103 are pivotally v"mounted in bearings 57, 58 on-the -free end of support arms 55, 56. Ihe table, lwhile being positioned vertically, 'pivots about the points 57, 58 Vindependently of the major Ypart of the drive mechanism and independently of the reel.

erably to the rear of the swather proper and therefore the table is supported on relatively long pivot arms which serve'the purpose of keeping the table' relativelylevel at all times, provide a large amount of movement Yof the cutter bar for a small movement of the lift arms, and vat the same time maintain atnarrow table Yand frame structure. The table 70 is counterbala'nced by means of vertically positioned springs 77 (Figs. 8 and 9) which connect 'the arms 102, V103 respectively, to the main frame. As

shown lin Fig. 8,"spring 75 is connected atits lowerend to "a studf83 which is welded to arm Y102. The upperend of the spring is adjustably connected tothe" (i1-ofthe mainframe vby means 'of the eye bolt and nutmeans 85 *secured to-stud 88 which-is welded to arm ,61. t i

The inner-end of the-sickle and guards is'supp `vrtcd byV Pivot points are located consida third table arm 104 which is pivotally connected to the rearwardly extending brace 105. Brace 105 is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 14 (Fig. 9). Also secured to arm 104 is a sheet metal divider 106 for the inner end of the swath being cut. Conventional divider 107 is provided at the outer end of the table.v

To accommodate the various positions of the table, relative to the main frame, the back wall is made of two overlapping sections 156, 158, best shown in Figure 8. The upper section 156 is secured to the main tube 11 by brackets 168, 162. The lower section 158 is secured to arms 102, 103 as at 168 (Fig. 8). A back wall is thus provided which is operative regardless of the relative position of table and main frame.

Controls Positioning the table to meet the varying crop conditions is accomplished as follows. A secondary tube 110 is rotatably mounted to, and immediately forward of, the primary tube structure 11, 12 and extends for substantially the entire length of the harvester. Channel shaped brackets 111 are welded to the tube members 11, 12 at spaced points and bearing blocks 112 (Fig. 10) are bolted thereto. Tube 110 is rotatably mounted in the bearing blocks 112. Arms 114, 115 are welded to tube 110 and are connected to table arms 102, 103 by means of rods 116, 117 respectively (Figs. 3 and 8). 'Thus by rotating tube 110, by means presently to be described, the table can be adjusted vertically.

A notched quadrant 119, best shown in Figures 7 and l0, is rigidly secured to the main frame. A tableoperating lever 120 is welded to tube 110 and is provided with the usual spring-actuated pawl 121 adapted to engage the notched quadrant 119 for locating the lever 120 and the tube 110 in any desired position in order to iix the position of the table relative to the ground. An operators lever 123, which is adjustable in length, extends forwardly from and is rotatably secured to the lever 120 and terminates at its forward end within easy reach of the tractor operator. By twisting the handle portion 125 the lever 123 is caused to rotate, thus oscillating a pin (not shown, but corresponding to pin 127) at the rear end of the lever 123 and thereby shifting the pawl 121 in or out of locking position. Another lever 129 is rotatably mounted on tube 110 by means of a collar 130 and it also has a similar notched quadrant 132, spring actuated pawl 133, and an operators lever 134 with a lock releasing arrangement for the pawl as previously described. A stop lug 136 is welded to lever 120 and engages lever 129 when the table is being raised and reaches a predetermined distance from the reel. Pawl 133 has rigidly xed thereto a pin 131 on the free end of which is rotatably mounted a roller pin 139. Pin 131 travels in the slot 131 in lever 129. A cam 137 on lever 120 contacts roller 139 and unlocks the pawl 133 from the quadrant 132 in order that continued rearward movement of lever 120 past this point will carry with it lever 129 and consequently the reel through connections to be described.

Levers 123 and 134 are rotatably mounted near their forward ends in a support 134 which is rigidly secured at its lower end to the hitch pole 34 at 34' (Fig. l).

Mounted within the primary tube structure 11, 12 is an inner tube 141 which is rotatably supported by bearings 142 Within the tube structures 11 and 12. Inner tube 141 extends from the primary tube structure at the grain end (Fig. 8) and has rigidly secured to this protruding end an arm 143. Near the other end (under the half-tube member 12), the inner tube 141 has a joint for assembly purposes comprising a stub shaft 144 within tube 141 (Figs. 5 and 6). The stub shaft 144 is Xedly secured to the table section 141 of tube 141 and detachably secured to the table section 144 of tube 141 by means of a pin or bolt 145. Making the inner tube 141 in two sections facilitates the assembly and disassembly 6 of the main frame. Secured to the stub shaft 144 is a downwardly extending crank member 146 comprising arms 147, 148 which are Welded together to form a single crank shaped member 146. The lower end of arm 147 is connected by means of a counterbalancc spring 150 (Fig. 3) to the main frame as at 151. The free end of arm 148 and the free end of the corresponding arm 143;

at the other end of tube 141, are linked by means of connecting rods 152, 153 respectively to reel adjusting beams 154, 155 respectively which in turn are pivotally mounted intermediate their length to the free ends of reel support brackets 62, 61 respectively. The conventional bat reel 157 is rotatably carried at the forward ends of adjusting beams 154, 155 and is driven through the V- sheave 159 secured to the end of the reel shaft.

Inner tube 141 is connected to lever 129 as follows. As previously mentioned, lever 129 is welded at 129' to collar 130 which in turn is rotatably mounted on tube 110. Thus levers 120 and 129 both pivot about the same center. Both the tube 141 and the collar 130 have secured thereto downwardly extending arms 138 and 135 respectively which are in turn pivotally connected together by link 140.

Driving means The driving means for the various operating components is as follows. The power shaft (under shield 161) is connected to the P. T. O. of the tractor and at its rear end has sheaves 163, 164 mounted for rotation therewith. Sheave 164 (Fig. 2) through V-belt 165 drives the conveyor 73 and sickle through Sheave 91 mounted on shaft 84 previously mentioned. Sheaves 166, 167 are positioned between the drive sheave 164 and the driven sheave 91 and are secured to the tube member 11 by suitable brackets. The arm 169 upon which idler sheave 166 is mounted is pivoted to its bracket and is resiliently connected to the tube 11 by means of a spring 170 which keeps the V-belt taut regardless of the position of the table.

The other Sheave 163 (Fig. 2) on the power shaft drives the reel through V-belt 171. A pulley 172 is adjustably secured in a slot in bracket 174 which is secured to the main frame. Another pulley 175 is adjustably mounted in a slot in the same bracket 174. Pulleys 172 and 175 serve to turn the belt 171 at right angles in driving from the driver pulley 163 on the power shaft to the sheave 180. A shaft 178 is mounted in the free end of support bracket 62, and carries sheaves 180 and 181. Sheave 180 is driven by V-belt 171 and sheave 181 drives the reel Sheave 159 through V-belt 182. The driving mechanism to the reel is uninterrupted regardless of the position of the reel in relation to the main frame as the pivot center for the reel (shaft 178) and nal drive belt 182 s the same.

Having thus shown and described our invention, we claim:

1. In a windrower having a laterally extending rigid and non-positionable main frame which maintains a substantially constant attitude to the ground traversed; a vertically positionable harvesting table pivotally mounted on said frame; a vertically positionable reel swingably mounted to said frame and positioned above said table; lever and quadrant control means mounted on said main trarne for lockably positioning said reel; a second lever and quadrant control means mounted on said main frame for positioning said table independently of the reel through one range of movement; means interconnecting said table lever and said reel lever when the table lever, upon being moved, reaches a predetermined relationship to said reel lever whereby the reel will be raised together with the table through another range of movement'.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means interconnecting said table and reel levers comprises; a lug and cam secured to said table lever to respectively abut against, and unlock, said reel lever.

3. In a windrower, a rigid and integral main frame 'i7 structure comprisingra laterally extending primary tube member, two'upwa'rdly and forwardly extending reel supportarms transversely spaced on said tube member and rigidlysecured thereto, two rearwardly and downwardly extending table `,support arms rigidly secured to said tube memberrand` transversely spaced thereon, an inner tube member rotatably mounted within said primary tube, a secondary tube rotatably mounted Vto and adjacent said primary tube; a table -pivotally connected `to said tabley support arms, connecting means between said table and secondary tubeY whereby the table is adjusted vertically by rotation of saiddsecondrary tube,V reel adjusting beams Y pivotally mounted intermediate -their length to the said reel support arms,sec ond connecting means vbetween said beams and said inner tube whereby said Abeams are adjusted by rotation `of said inner tube, lirst'adjustable control l,means for rotating said inner tube ,andV locking it in any one of a plurality of positions, second adjustable control means for rotating said secondary tube independently ofjsaidy inner tube through one :range -of movement, means operatively connecting said first and second control means whereby said inner `tube will be fcaused lto rotate through another range of secondary tube movement.

4. In a windrower having -a ,laterally extending rigid and non-positionable main frame which maintains a substantiallyconstan't attitude to the yground traversed; a vertically positiona'ble harvesting table pivotally mounted on 'said frame; a vertically positionable reel swingably mounted to said frame and positioned above said table; lever and quadrant control means mounted "on said main frame for lockably ,positioning said reel; a second lever and quadrant control means mounted on said main frame for `positioning said table independently 'of the reel through one range of movement; means secured to one of said levers a'n'd adapted to abut against`the other said lever when said one lever, upon being moved, reaches a predetermined relationship to said other lever whereby the reel will be raised Vtogether withthe table through another range of movement.

5. A device as denedin claim 4 kfurther characterized in that said means comprises a lugand cam secured-'t0 one lever to respectively abut against and unlock said other lever. .I l f l i 6. `'I n a pulltype windrower adapted tobe secured to a tractive Vvehicle intr-'ailing relation ythereto having a laterally extending rigid and non-.positionable main 'frame which `maintains a substantially lconstant .attitude to the` ground traversed; Va vertically positionable harvesting table pivotally-mounted on said frame; a vertically positionablereel swingablymounted to said Aframe and positioned Vabove said table; levier; and-.quadrant control means i' mounted on said mainframe f onlockably positioning said'reel; a second lever and -guadrantcongtrol meansV mounted on said main frame for positioning said table independently of the reel through onerange of movement; means interconnecting .said table lever tand Said -reel lever when the tablelever, upon being moved, reaches a predetermined relationship-tq'said reellever whereby the reel will rbe raisedrtogether with the table ythrough another range'of movement, "Said levers adapted to be independently .and `manually voperated :from the tractiveV vehicle. r f

AReferences Cited in the tile of this patent 'UNITEDSTATES IPlrffEll'l-S Y fVig'nmetal. r Feb. l, 1955 maw la, 

